RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It’s getting late for Lionel Messi, who’ll be 31 during next year’s World Cup in Russia.
He’s yet to deliver a major trophy for Argentina, his country of birth. And it may not happen next year. In fact, Messi and Argentina may not even get there.
Argentina is on the verge of missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970 after stumbling to a 0-0 draw against Peru before a capacity crowd on Thursday at Boca Juniors’ Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires — one of the dominant home-field advantages in all of world soccer.